Bariloche (Jane)

Currently we are in Bariloche, aka the Swiss Alps of Argentina. We are staying at a hosteria located right on Lago Guieirrez, which reminds us of Lake Tahoe, though not as big. Here we have been playing tennis (there is hope that one day I will beat Chase), playing big stakes poker (with rocks from the beach), swimming in the lake, and playing frisbee (ouch). We are spending a lot of time with the Makek family--Sofia is 16 and Tomas is 14. Now to explain who they are: their father, Andres, was an exchange student in my dad's house for a year in high school. Now, my dad's brother John, my aunt Brigid, my grandpa Bud, and Ritsy are all here for a small family reunion. Last night we ordered a couple boxes of empanadas (cheese and grilled onion empanadas might be my new favorite food) and ate them on the grass in front of the lake on a warm summer's night. Good times!!

I can't believe we have been in Argentina for over two months, it has flown by! Before coming here I had no idea that Argentina was so interesting and beautiful… I love it!! There are so many different parts of this country; we've now been in the big city of BA, the Patagonian desert of Gaiman, the beaches in Pinamar, the glaciers in El Calafate, the open wilderness of the estancia (ranch), and now the mountains of Bariloche. We really should put up a map of Argentina on this blog.